Week 13 of the NFL season brought more misery for several head coaches already feeling the heat. A slew of losses by struggling teams has intensified the spotlight on embattled coaches, with many now wondering if changes are imminent. Teams like the New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and others face difficult decisions about the direction of their franchises and whether their current coaching staffs are capable of turning things around.
Giants’ Daboll Under Fire After Loss to Cowboys
Giants head coach Brian Daboll, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, has seen his team’s fortunes plummet in 2024. After a resurgent 2022 season and playoff appearance, New York has crashed back to earth, stumbling to a 2-10 record following a Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With former franchise quarterback Daniel Jones now gone and the offense sputtering, many are questioning if Daboll is the right man to choose and develop the team’s new signal caller in 2025.
Daboll received praise for his work with Jones in 2022, but the sustainability of his offensive approach has come under scrutiny. His game management has also raised eyebrows, though he can rightly point to a lack of talent, especially after 2023 NFL Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley departed in free agency. Still, patience is already wearing thin amongst a fanbase that briefly tasted success again. With a likely top draft pick coming, Giants brass must decide if Daboll has earned the right to hand-pick the team’s next franchise QB.
Will Raiders Roll the Dice on a New Coach?
In Las Vegas, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce is coming under increasing scrutiny. The former NFL linebacker and high school coach has struggled to manage games and clean up a mistake-prone team. On Sunday, his Raiders fell to the Chiefs after a comedy of special teams errors and a botched late-game scenario. It marked the latest chapter in a season of miscues and questionable decisions by Pierce.
The Raiders are undeniably in a talent deficit, but Pierce bears responsibility for consistently putting his team at a disadvantage. His game management and penchant for unforced errors would be forgivable with signs of progress, but a 2-10 record offers little evidence that he’s the long-term answer. If the Raiders don’t show vast improvement down the stretch, Pierce may be one-and-done in Sin City.
How many more inexcusable losses can Mark Davis stomach? At some point, he has to put his coach on notice.
– a source close to the Raiders organization
Ulbrich’s Audition for Jets Taking on Water
The Jets raised eyebrows by elevating Jeff Ulbrich from defensive coordinator to interim head coach after firing Robert Saleh midseason. The results have only gotten worse, with the lifeless Jets crashing to 3-9 after an ugly home loss to the Seahawks. Ulbrich’s defense, supposedly his calling card, has nosedived to the bottom of the league. Game management and preparation continue to be suspect.
- Jets are 1-6 since promoting Ulbrich to head coach
- Defense ranks last in EPA per play since Week 6
- Unforced errors and sloppy play still plaguing the team
Barring a miraculous finish, Ulbrich seems destined to be a one-and-done interim coach. The Jets desperately need a fresh start and a unifying voice to lead them out of the wilderness. Ulbrich, for all his efforts, does not appear to be the long-term answer.
Jaguars at a Crossroads with Pederson
The Jacksonville Jaguars have crashed back to earth after a promising start under Doug Pederson. Now sitting at 2-10 following an ugly loss to the rival Texans, the Jaguars appear headed for another reboot. With young franchise QB Trevor Lawrence suffering through a trying year, many are wondering if Pederson is the right man to oversee his development moving forward.
The Jaguars have faced turmoil from all angles, with injuries, distractions, and poor play across the board. Pederson carries a Super Bowl pedigree, but there are questions about whether his message is still resonating in Jacksonville. If the Jags finish the year with a whimper, ownership may decide it’s time for yet another fresh start.
There’s still belief in the building that Pederson can right the ship, but he’s quickly running out of goodwill. The next five weeks are crucial for Doug.
– a league source familiar with the Jaguars’ thinking
Other Coaches Feeling the Pressure
Several other coaches find themselves under scrutiny following a Week 13 to forget:
- Patriots coach Jerod Mayo saw his team fall to 3-10 after a tough loss to the Colts. Mayo made a head-scratching decision to attempt an NFL record 68-yard field goal with the game on the line instead of trying a Hail Mary. Time is running out for Mayo to show progress in the post-Belichick era.
- Titans coach Brian Callahan is overseeing one of the NFL’s worst special teams units, a weekly disaster that’s repeatedly put his team behind the 8-ball. While some positive signs exist with a young roster, another loss showcased the steep learning curve Callahan still faces.
- Bengals coach Zac Taylor has watched his team find creative ways to lose close games all season. After a run of success, Cincinnati has crashed back to a 4-8 mark, with late-game collapses becoming the norm. While Taylor has earned some leeway, Bengals brass must decide if he’s still the man to maximize a contending window around Joe Burrow.
As the NFL playoff picture comes into focus, several franchises on the outside looking in face critical decisions. Week 13 ratcheted up the pressure on numerous embattled coaches. The final five games could determine who stays and who goes as teams aim to reboot for 2025. For the likes of Daboll, Pierce, Ulbrich, and others, the clock is ticking to prove they deserve another chance to lead their teams out of the wilderness.
